President Barack Obama has unveiled a raft of sweeping gun control proposals, setting the stage for a showdown with firearms rights advocates.
Mr Obama called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and wider background checks on gun buyers. The Democratic president also signed 23 executive actions, which do not require congressional approval.
Mr Obama said gun-control reforms could not wait any longer, after last month's school massacre in Connecticut.
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He unveiled the proposals at the White House on Wednesday, flanked by children who wrote him letters after December's Newtown school shooting, which left 26 dead.
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Mr Obama said: "If there's even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there's even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try."
He urged Congress:
- to reintroduce an expired ban on "military-style" assault weapons, such as those used in several recent mass shootings
- limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds
- introduce background checks on all gun sales; currently private sales and some sales at gun shows, constituting about 40% of the national total, are exempt
- pass a ban on possession and sale of armour-piercing bullets
- introduce harsher penalties for gun-traffickers, especially unlicensed dealers who buy arms for criminals
- finally approve the appointment of the head of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Mr Obama also signed 23 unilateral orders, including an end to a ban on gun-violence research by a prominent federal agency, as well as a measure promoting responsible gun ownership.
He acknowledged his legislative push would encounter stiff opposition in Congress. |